Anesthesia and Analgesia
What this domain tests
Anesthesia and analgesia covers premedication, induction, maintenance, airway management, monitoring, and recovery. The exam asks you to anticipate complications and verify equipment before the patient is connected.
Core rules
- Check the machine, oxygen supply, vaporizer, breathing circuit, scavenging, and suction before induction.
- Premedication reduces stress and anesthetic requirements; choose drugs for the patient's condition.
- Induction uses IV agents such as propofol, ketamine, or alfaxalone; intubate when reflexes are lost.
- Verify ET tube size, cuff seal, and secure tie; use a throat pack for dental procedures.
- Monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO2, ETCO2, blood pressure, temperature, reflexes, and mucous membranes.
- MAC varies by agent and patient; do not confuse vaporizer setting with delivered dose.
- Recovery needs warmth, oxygen, airway protection, and pain assessment.
Worked example
A 10 kg dog is induced with ketamine at 5 mg/kg IV. Total dose = 10 × 5 = 50 mg. The vial is 100 mg/mL, so volume = 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 mL. Draw up only after checking the concentration and label; controlled-drug records must match.
Traps that cost marks
Not checking the cuff; no scavenging; wrong circuit for a small patient; monitoring only after surgery starts; leaving the vaporizer on during recovery; ignoring hypothermia.